End-to-end prioritized data delivery on networks using IP over frame relay

Abstract

The invention provides methods and systems for providing priority processing to critical data as the data is transmitted across a network. A plurality of Internet protocol (IP) packets, each of which contains data and priority information, are received at a first router. The data contained in the IP packets is then encapsulated into frame relay frames containing the priority information. The frame relay frames are transmitted from the first router to a frame relay network in a manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames. The frame relay frames are then transmitted across a frame relay network to a second router in a manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames.

1. A method of transmitting data across a network comprising the steps of
 receiving a plurality of Internet protocol packets each of which contains data and priority information at a first router; 
 encapsulating the data contained in the Internet protocol packets into frame relay frames containing the priority information; 
 transmitting the frame relay frames from the first router to a frame relay network in a manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames; and 
 transmitting the frame relay frames across a frame relay network to a second router in manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames 
 wherein the step of transmitting the frame relay frames from the first router comprises transmitting the frame relay frames over a group of more than one permanent virtual circuit, and the group of permanent virtual circuits includes at least one circuit designated to carry frames containing critical information and at least one circuit designated to carry frames containing non-critical information. 
 
   
   
     2. A method of transmitting data across a network comprising the steps of
 receiving a plurality of Internet protocol packets each of which contains data and priority information at a first router; 
 encapsulating the data contained in the Internet protocol packets into frame relay frames containing the priority information; 
 transmitting the frame relay frames from the first router to a frame relay network in a manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames; 
 transmitting the frame relay frames across a frame relay network to a second router in manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames 
 converting the frame relay frames arriving at the second router into Internet protocol packets having the priority information; and 
 transmitting the Internet protocol packets from the second router toward a destination location in a manner determined by the priority information included in the Internet protocol packets. 
 
   
   
     3. A method of transmitting data across a network comprising the steps of
 receiving a plurality of Internet protocol packets each of which contains data and priority information at a first router; 
 encapsulating the data contained in the Internet protocol packets into frame relay frames containing the priority information; 
 transmitting the frame relay frames from the first router to a frame relay network in a manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames; and 
 transmitting the frame relay frames across a frame relay network to a second router in manner determined by the priority information included in the frame relay frames 
 wherein the priority information of each Internet protocol packet arriving at the first router is a function of an address of each Internet protocol packet.